Do you have what it takes to practice Servant Leadership?
I’m a big believer in the concept of Servant Leadership. For me, it has always been the most effective, empowering, and rewarding style out there. It gets results, and creates an environment where people actually enjoy coming to work, and feel good about what they do. What’s not to like?
The question begs to be asked; “If Servant Leadership is so great, why doesn’t everybody do it?” Well, the simple answer is, it’s not for everyone. Not everyone has what it takes to be a Servant Leader. It’s not easy, and for all of its advantages, it comes with some sacrifices you may not be willing to make. So are you cut out to be a Servant Leader? Well, before you jump in and try it out for yourself, there are just a few things that you should know.
Servant Leaders don’t crave power. Formal power comes with the title of “boss”. If the idea of that excites you and makes you want a higher position because of it, then you won’t like this model. Servant Leader views power as a necessary evil more than something to be coveted. They see themselves as stewards of the power, responsible for delegating it into the hands of those who need it more than they do.
Servant Leaders take the hit first. If your first response to an error is to seek and destroy the person who made it, then you should stay away from Servant Leadership. Instead, this leadership style requires that you take responsibility for problems you may not have directly caused, and as a result create a climate where employees can feel safe to take reasonable risks, comforted in the knowledge that you will have their backs.
Servant Leaders take the blame, and give the credit. If you love applause, compliments and accolades, then you might not want to consider yourself a Servant Leader. Instead, you should be ready to deflect all the good vibes that come your way to the people who deserve it most. Your job is to give the people you lead what they need to do their jobs, and if they did it well, then don’t they deserve to reap the benefits?
The Servant Leader considers him/herself the least important person in the room. This doesn’t mean you have to have a low self-esteem. Instead, think of it this way… Let’s say I boarded a United Airlines flight right before takeoff and asked the passengers “Who is the most important employees at United to you right now?”. Do you think they would say “the CEO and the executive team”, or “the flight crew”? At the end of the day, all the executives are really doing is giving the flight crew what they need to do their jobs well. And it’s the flight crew, not the CEO who is getting you to your destination safely, making them the most important people in the organization at that moment.
Servant Leaders’ drive comes from a mission, not just a paycheck. This doesn’t mean money is irrelevant or avoided. But what it does mean is that the money is not the primary driver. There has to be a calling. This is what drives the leader to sacrifice self-interest for the greater good. Money alone simply doesn’t do that.
Servant Leaders give their employees enough tools so they can leave. You read that right. Servant Leadership is all about investing in people. If your strategy is to keep people in the dark and suppressed enough so they have to stay, you won’t like being a Servant Leader. The key here is to give them the tools they need to leave, but treat them well enough so they choose to stay. This takes a level of professional bravery that not everyone can muster.
There is no doubt that there are leadership styles that are much easier than Servant Leadership, as the word “servant” implies. You have to put the needs of others, and the needs of the organization above your own self-interests, pride, ego, and sometimes comfort. For those willing to make the investment though, the rewards can be overwhelmingly positive. If you enjoy seeing the people around you shine, grow, and prosper, then perhaps, if you have what it takes, maybe you too can embrace what it means to be a Servant Leader.
